Electoral Board dismisses objection to Park Board president’s paperwork

The county Electoral Board gave a Wilmette Park Board candidate’s application the all-clear on Thursday following a resident’s objections.

Wilmette’s Jeff Axelrod challenged the validity of Park Board President Kara Kosloskus’ paperwork, including approximately 20 percent of her 100 signatures, and thus her place on the April 2025 ballot.

After a review and public hearing in December, the Cook County Electoral Board on Thursday, Dec. 19, sided with a hearing officer to uphold Kosloskus’ application, which included 92 legal signatures (more than the 89 necessary to file for the Wilmette Park Board).

To help her cause, Kosloskus said she went back to the signatories who were challenged and facilitated affidavits to further prove their support.

“I’m happy to serve the people of Wilmette and happy to be back on the ballot,” Kosloskus said. “I’m happy to have overcome this hurdle.”

In his objection, Axelrod also claimed Kosloskus’ filing was illegal because a paperclip was used and because Kosloskus’ candidate statement contained inaccuracies. The board dismissed those claims as well and during the proceedings showed Kosloskus’ paperwork was legally bound with a binder clip.

No other candidate in The Record’s coverage area faced an objection to the county’s Electoral Board.

Kosloskus is one of six candidates who applied for three open seats on the Wilmette Park Board. Two other incumbents, Patrick Duffy and Ali Frazier, are in the field, as are newcomers Anastasia Royal, Nancy Johnson and Paul McKinley.

Since the spring, Axelrod has been a regular and vocal opponent of the Wilmette Park District’s new operating procedures at Gillson Park’s south beach. The changes, which were approved by Kosloskus and the Park Board, included a fence around the beach’s perimeter and paid entry for swimmers.

In an email to The Record, Axelrod cited his involvement in the beach debate as a precursor to his interest in candidates’ nomination papers.

“My belief is that every candidate should follow the same rules, and it’s important that the process is equitable and consistent,” he wrote. “The appropriate authorities have now ruled on the matter, and we move forward to the election in April.”

Axelrod’s objection identified 21 signatures in Kosloskus’ filing with one or more invalidating attribute; however, the county’s electoral process did not find violations to discredit the application.

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